How Formula One worked in India

Anchored by the Little Master

Sachin Tendulkar with Ferrari’s Ross Brawn

Schumacher’s association with Ferrari also contributed to this simplistic view, because clearly the Ferrari, in any shape of form, captures our imagination. They are fast, and are an aspirational version of our daily ride.

The third reason Schumacher and Ferrari are such household names is because they figured in the same sentence as Sachin Tendulkar. The fact that Schumacher and Ferrari are the Little Master’s favourite, adds impetus to the argument.

When Fiat decided to gift a prancing horse to the Indian phenomenon, back in 2002, the little hitch of customs duty made its way into the anchor story of major newspapers. Handed over by Schumacher after he equaled the record of 29 Test centuries by Australian legend Don Bradman, Tendulkar has since sold the Ferrari 360 Modena to a Surat businessman.

The controversy boiled over, and all that remained was a reinforcement of the lavish Formula One culture.